Go old school. Read the paper

In the old days, consuming news took a little work. People bought or subscribed to a local newspaper, and often a statewide or regional paper as well. (My folks got our hometown paper and the Louisville Courier, even though Louisville was hours away and in another state.) Then they sat down and read them. They waited for the nightly news. They turned on the radio, which often reported on local as well as national news, again, on a schedule most days.

Today it’s all at your fingertips. On the phone, a tablet, whatever tiny computer you prefer. A person can read the latest news from hundreds of newspapers, thousands of sources, plus random strangers weighing in on X, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit … the list goes on.

The internet is both a blessing and curse.

With all of the different ways to consume news in today’s world, people probably do know more than their grandparents’ generation: who Taylor Swift is dating, what the score of last night’s game was, how the presidential primaries are going, etc. Information is there for the asking. Don’t know how many cups are in quart? Just ask Siri.

But local newspaper readers know more about what’s going on in their own communities.

Newspapers are the original aggregator. We bring you photos, stories and advertisements about local government, crime, sports, people, business, environment, weather, events, wildlife, protests, anniversaries, opinion, milestones, agriculture, history, and yes, upcoming events. And we verify information, versus offering our best guess on a Facebook page. We attend meetings, so you don’t always have to.

All for less than a cup of coffee each week, delivered to your mailbox.

Democracy isn’t for the lazy. Being a good citizen means making an effort, but people can work smart by reading their local newspaper and then attending the meetings they think are most important, while reading stories about the others, reported by people who cover them regularly.

There’s lots going on in Carlton County. Don’t miss something fun or important because you didn’t know.

Jana Peterson is the editor of the Pine Knot News and remodeled this editorial because it’s a good thought worth repeating. Want to weigh in? Email [email protected]